Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
6,942 classics books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best classics classics to read in English as a learner?
The best classics classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Émile Zola, Novelist and Reformer: An Account of His Life & Work, Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments and Âmona; The Child; And The Beast; And Others: From "The Strange Adventure of James Shervinton, and Other Stories" - 1902. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
- 6,942
- books
Level B2ClassicsThe soldier's orphansIn the harsh shadows of poverty-stricken Philadelphia, two young brothers and their devoted grandmother cling to hope and each other, finding small joys amid hardship and hunger.
Level C1ClassicsThe snow manIn a cold, abandoned room filled with dust and silence, maps of icy landscapes hint at a forgotten world beyond.
Level C1ClassicsThe skipper's wooing, and The brown man's servantOnboard the cement-laden schooner Seamew, uneasy whispers stir among the crew as their captain’s strange behavior hints at troubles deeper than the sea.
Level B2ClassicsThe silica gel pseudomorph, and other storiesIn sandy South Jersey, a college student's quest for rare green sand uncovers a mysterious, translucent figure buried beneath the earth—part man, part glassy enigma—and sparks a cu…
Level B2ClassicsThe silent cabinIn the harsh Alaskan wilderness, a dying man faces solitude with quiet resolve, while two travelers battle brutal winter trails toward uncertain fortunes.
Level C1ClassicsThe show girlA Parisian gentleman forsakes high society for the bohemian life of Montmartre, weaving a tale through letters filled with duels, mysterious figures, and the search for the elusive…
Level C1ClassicsThe sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Dive into the vivid recollections of a literary life marked by shifting principles, surprising alliances, and the intricate dance between faith, politics, and literature.
Level C1ClassicsThe sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 1 of 2)A reflective literary life unfolds through candid dedications and personal recollections, tracing the journey of an author who rose from humble origins to esteemed recognition, rev…
Level C1ClassicsThe sea-gullOn a country estate, a young playwright stages an amateur theatrical, stirring passions and tensions among family and friends drawn together by art, love, and the struggles of rura…
Level C1ClassicsThe schoolmistress, and other storiesA weary schoolmistress endures the endless routine of a remote village and the hardships of her isolated life, haunted by memories and the slow encroachment of spring.
Level C1ClassicsThe romance of my childhood and youthExplore the vivid reflections of a writer’s early life and the shifting literary culture that shaped her art, revealing the interplay between personal experience and creative expre…
Level B2ClassicsThe romance of Captain DuffyA rugged sea captain stranded on a remote island where no one ever comes, he recounts a daring escape from a hijacked pig boat and survival against the odds, revealing a tale of ad…
Level C1ClassicsThe riddle of the rocks: 1895In the remote Great Smoky Mountains, Roger Purdee guards two mysterious sandstone blocks he believes are the shattered stone tables of the Law, revealing a world where faith, super…
Level B2ClassicsThe revenge of Florida JackIn a tense Western showdown, the volatile herder Florida Jack faces the wrath of ranch boss Jim Kitchin after mistreating a prized sheepdog, sparking a fierce conflict in Woolville…
Level C1ClassicsThe rejected wifeIn a burgeoning New England village, a family rushes to prepare their long-unfinished home for a Thanksgiving reunion, where the return of their only son and unexpected guests prom…
Level B2ClassicsThe reckoningIn a small barber shop, a sharply witty barber and a hurried customer engage in a tense game of patience and power, where every minute lathered reveals deeper conflicts beneath the…
Level C1ClassicsThe reapingIn the charged atmosphere of political intrigue, William Fox, a brilliant yet controversial figure, navigates the fierce debates and rivalries that could propel him to the presiden…
Level B2ClassicsThe real MackayIn a quiet Scottish Highlands croft, a young woman returns home, burdened by a secret heartbreak and memories of lost loved ones.
Level C1ClassicsThe rat-trapA newly arrived British officer and his wife confront the challenges of colonial life on the tropical Key Island, where the scenic beauty masks a rigid society shaped by military a…
Level B2ClassicsThe ragged edge: A tale of ward life & politicsIn the gritty world of ward politics and city life, a young attorney confronts corruption threatening a local streetcar franchise, navigating legal battles and the manipulations of…
Level C1ClassicsThe provincial American and other papersA provincial American reflects on his rural roots and encounters with Civil War veterans, capturing the spirit and social fabric of small-town life in early 20th-century America.
Level C1ClassicsThe pronunciation of Greek; accent and quantity. A philological inquiryExplore the debate over the true pronunciation of Greek, balancing ancient tradition with modern scholarship and the living voice of Greece itself.
Level C1ClassicsThe promotion of the admiral, and other sea comediesIn the rough-and-tumble world of a San Francisco sailors' boarding-house, a cunning, tough character known as Shanghai Smith recounts his infamous exploits and a legendary clash wi…
Level C1ClassicsThe private life, The wheel of time, Lord Beaupré, The visits, Collaboration, Owen Wingrave.Amid the stunning Swiss Alps, a distinguished circle of London’s literary and theatrical elite gathers, revealing the subtle complexities and unexpected warmth beneath their polish…
Level C1ClassicsThe private life of Henry Maitland: A record dictated by J. H.Step into the intimate and unvarnished portrait of Henry Maitland, a struggling literary man whose life and struggles reveal the raw truths behind the facade of fame.
Level C1ClassicsThe princess and the tigerIn a kingdom where tradition reigns, a newlywed princess watches her husband lead a grand hunt through misty mountains, while she contemplates the ancient ruins that guard their re…
Level C1ClassicsThe pride o' the morningIn the quiet English Midlands, the return of Colin to Castle Hill stirs restless anticipation and hidden tensions within the household, as love, duty, and past secrets begin to unf…
Level C1ClassicsThe prey of the strongestIn the rugged wilderness of British Columbia, workers carve a path through towering mountains to build a great railroad, forging bonds amid fierce challenges and the raw power of n…
Level B2ClassicsThe pretty sister of José: 1889In a dusty village near Madrid, slow but kind José dreams of a better life for his pretty sister Pepita and their grandmother.
Level C1ClassicsThe power of sympathy: or, The triumph of nature. Founded in truth.In a young American republic torn between old loyalties and new ideals, a poignant tale unfolds through letters, exposing the raw truths of society, sentiment, and the human heart…
Level C1ClassicsThe possessedIn a quiet provincial town, Stepan Trofimovitch Verhovensky, a once-celebrated progressive patriot, clings to his imagined role as a persecuted exile, weaving a tale of fading infl…
Level C1ClassicsThe pocket George BorrowJourney through vivid landscapes and diverse cultures as you explore the intriguing customs, tales, and travels of Gypsies, Welsh hills, and Spanish adventures, all distilled into…
Level C1ClassicsThe plant-lore & garden-craft of ShakespeareDiscover the rich botanical world woven through Shakespeare’s works, revealing his deep passion for plants and gardening alongside his literary genius.
Level C1ClassicsThe place called DagonWhen the town’s reclusive Westcott urgently summons Doctor Dreeme at midnight, he ventures into a shadowed world of isolation and secrets that the wary farmers of Marlborough avoid…
Level C1ClassicsThe pitAmid the bustling Chicago wheat pit, ambition and intrigue collide as Laura Dearborn and her companions navigate a world where fortunes hinge on high-stakes speculation and the dra…
Level B2ClassicsThe pioneerA seasoned colonel rides through California’s rugged foothills, witnessing the fading echoes of the Gold Rush and the relentless struggles of mule drivers on dusty mountain roads,…
Level C1ClassicsThe photodramaExplore the birth and evolution of the motion picture as a powerful art form, revealing the techniques and philosophy behind silent drama and its rise from simple pantomime to a gl…
Level C1ClassicsThe phantoms of the foot-bridge: 1895A wary traveler crosses a fragile foot-bridge haunted by restless spirits near a graveyard, where local tales of ghosts and eerie encounters stir unease.
Level C1ClassicsThe phantom of Bogue Holauba: 1911A man navigating the mysterious Mississippi delta encounters a haunting, luminous figure on the riverbank—an apparition that stirs fear in his guide and unease in himself as he app…
Level C1ClassicsThe pelicansOrphaned sisters face an uncertain future after their mother’s untimely death, as a determined family friend steps in to provide care and stability amid whispers of lost heritage a…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 4] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafhmnla8p2c739iuhu0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 4]In a quiet village, the sudden death of Matthias Boryna sends shockwaves through his family and neighbors, revealing the harsh realities of rural life and the fragile bonds that ho…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 3] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da93h2dnmvfc73bil250.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 3]As spring awakens a sleepy rural landscape, the lives of villagers stir with the season’s promise and hardship.![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 2] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da93gt5nmvfc73bil220.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 2]As winter tightens its icy grip, a rural village braces against howling winds and creeping darkness, revealing the harsh beauty and looming struggles of peasant life amid nature’s…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 1] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da938glnmvfc73biktag.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 1]In a tranquil autumnal village, a determined woman faces the harsh realities of winter without work or shelter, while the land and its people carry on beneath the vast sky, reveali…
Level C1ClassicsThe passionate yearA young Cambridge graduate begins a new life as a schoolmaster at Millstead, stepping into a world of old traditions and quiet mysteries.
Level C1ClassicsThe painted swanIn a stately English boudoir, a gathering of aristocrats and acquaintances reveals complex social dynamics where kindness, deception, and personal struggles intertwine.
Level B2ClassicsThe outcastOn the rugged island of Grimön, a devoted couple wrestle with harsh realities: a stubborn husband clings to farming barren land while his wife yearns for the sea’s promise of fortu…
Level C1ClassicsThe opalMary Elton, a sharp and unconventional woman admired for her frankness and wit, invites her friend Philip Morley to an exclusive Boston gathering where a mysterious beauty from Eur…